Claire's 1st Gymnastics Class!

Claire was so excited to start gymnastics today! Last night, she laid out her "biketard" and wanted me to get a bib ready so she wouldn't mess up her outfit during breakfast. : )

She had a really great time in class! The class, made up of boys and girls, warmed up, rotated through some activities, bounced on the trampoline, and then played in the soft block pit. She was so happy when she finished and wanted to know how many more naps to her next class.

What is this? Rain!!!

How long has it been since we've had rain?? How much in a drought are we??

We took advantage of the wet stuff falling from the sky and broke out the new rain-jackets. The boys loved them! It was a nice morning for a walk.

The Twins are in Twin Beds

For the first time in 4 years, there is no crib in the nursery. Instead, there stands 2 twin beds. *sigh* Those easly years have really passed fast. I think back to when Claire was itty bitty, sleeping in the crib. I would nurse and rock her there in the middle of the night. Eventually she moved into her new room and we added a second crib to the nursery-- how funny that seemed. 2 cribs. 2 babies.

No wthere are 2 big boys in 2 big beds. The twins look so tiny-- to think that one day they will stretch head to toe, top to bottom in those beds.

The transition went pretty well. Luckily, I have Mima out here for a visit, so she can help with the bedtime routine with Claire, and then help me round up the stray twin or two...

Ave was not pleased with the switch initially. After about 25 minutes of helping me burn calories, he and Asher decided it was not so bad and enjoyed the freedom of their cages. They would run to the door, open it, look, and slam it on me. Then I wised up and put a doorknob cover on the inside-- they couldn't open the door. But that just meant the party just continued on the inside of the room. I would open the door and chase them back to their beds, kinda like cockroaches when you turn on the light.

About an hour after their bedtime, the twins were both asleep in their new big-boy beds. Whew!

A big shout-out to Uncle Casey and Chika for the HUGE help they gave me in getting those beds up and ready and the old cribs dismantled. So much more than I ever imagined!!!

You know it's hot when...

... you go straight from the breakfast table to the slip and slide (no suits!), and the clock reads 7:36 am!


Yesterday was a blistering 110 degrees-- today it should reach 111.

I try to keep cool by looking @ the pictures of the ice storm from February...

Our little girl...

"I see who I want to be, in my daughter's eyes."
- Martina McBride

Our Big Boys!

We just went to the doctor this morning for the twins 2 year check up. What an ordeal! The boys were not happy to be there initially, but we eventually made it.

Asher weighed in at about 33 lbs. (Due to their turkey nature, I had to get on the scale with them, then subtract my weight-- not once, but twice!). That put him in about the 97th percentile for weight. He measured 37.5" long-- and was actually off the charts! If you double a child's height @ age 2, you get a good estimate of how tall s/he will be full-grown... so... do the math... Ash looks to be 6'3"!!! It's hard to wrap my mind around my big baby being so big!!!

Avery weighed about 29 lbs, which was about 80th percentile-- what growth! Usually Peanut has been in the 25-50th percentiles in height and weight, so this one was a change. He measured 36" even-- a full yard!-- which put him in the 90th percentile. Wow!!! When he reaches adulthood, he should be 6'!

Aren't genetics something?

The Night Before Their Birthday

When I think back to 2 years ago from last night, I can't help but get all emotional. I was making the cupcakes for the playdate this afternoon at the pool for Ash and Ave, and I started to reminisce about what was going on in life July 20, 2009...

2 years ago, Claire was my only baby. She was 22 months old. I thought I was a busy mom back then. I thought life was challenging.

Then the twins were born and what a blessing they have been! People stop and ask if it's hard having twins-- well, yes, of course, having two babies the same age is definitely more trying than just one. But luckily, I don't know any different.

Because of the boys, I think I have become a better mother, person, and friend. I've been so lucky to have met so many wonderful acquaintances-- through the twins club and elsewhere-- while maintaining relations with others through the years.

Don't get me wrong-- there were some tough days, days of tears and angst, questions and worry. But in the past 730 days, I want to think there were more great than good.

And my, how they have passed.